Telephone switch



Aug. 25, 1925.

J. F. HEARN TELEPHONE SWITCH Filed June 20. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. F.HEARN TELEPHONE SWITCH Filed June 20, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 25,1925.

J. F. HEARN TELEPHONE SWITCH Filed June 20, 1923 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. HEARN, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COM-PANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE SWITCH.

Application filed .Tune 20, 1923.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. HEARN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Passaic, in the county of Passaic, State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TelephoneSwitches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to telephone switches and more particularly itrefers to that class of switches adapted for establishing connection inan automatic or semi-automatic telephone exchange system.

The object of this invention is to provide a switch of the characterabove referred to, in which the number of operating parts is reduced toa minimum and so located that they are readily accessible for adjustmentor repairs.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a switchingstructure wherein sets of conducting strips are brought into contactingengagement with selected sets of contact springs with a wiping action ina simple and positive manner.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of sets of operablecontact springs arranged on stationary supports andmovable selectivel incontacting relation with sets of movab e conducting strips by means ofindividually associated camming members arranged on movable bars.

Another feature is the provision of electromagnetic means for operatingthe camming bars together with the provision of means carried by thebars for arresting the vibration of the cams when released by theirassociated conducting strips.

Other features of invention and advantages will appear from thefollowing description and by the claims appended hereto, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a partial frontassembly view of said switch; Fig. 2 is a sectional view takenapproximately on line 22 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction .of thearrows; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 ofFig. 1 showing a camming bar in normal non-operated position; Fig. 4 isa view similar to that of Fig. 3 but showing the camming bar in operatedposition; Fig. 5 is a detail view of a set of contacting strips showingits 0-perating electroma-gnet in normal non-operated position, and Fig.6 is a detail view of Serial No. 646,505.

a modified form of operating mechanism for the contacting strips.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The switch structure shown in Fig. 1 generally consists of a pluralityof sets of contact springs arranged in coordinate rows and disposedobliquely in the insulating supports 20 which are fixedly arranged inequally spaced relation on the cross bars 21 and 22 of the switch frame.Each set of contacts generally consists of a number of flat contactsprings 23, 24 and 25, each of which is provided with a back support26., 27 and 28 adapted to hold their respective springs in adjustedposition.

The structure may be of any desired width and height to accommodate asmany horizontal rows of contact sets and as many sets per row as may berequired. 75

For each vertical row of sets of cont-act springs 23, 24 and there isprovided a set of longitudinally movable conducting strips 29, 30 and31, having their ends fixedly arranged on the insulating yokes 32 and 33which are pivotally arranged on the connecting links 34 and 35 which inturn are p'ivotally arranged on brackets 36 and 37 respectively. Bracket37 is held securely on a bar 88 which has its ends secured on the crossbars 21 and 22 by means of a number of screws, such as 18 and 19.Bracket 36 is held securely on a bar 39 which is secured on the oppositeends of cross bars 21 and 22 by means of a number of screws, such as 15and 16, shown in Fig. 1. A pivoted link 40 and bracket 41, shown inFigure 5 together with the insulating guiding members 47, 48, 49, 50,etc., are provided toprevent the distortion of the conducting strips 29,30 and 95 31 when brought in contacting engagement with their associatedcontact springs 23, 24 and 25 respectively. Each set of conductingstrips 29, 80 and 31 is operatively connected to a link 42, which inturn is connected to a plunger 43 adapted to move the strips inengagement with their associated contacts 23-, 24 and 25 in response toeach energization of an electromagnet 44. A retracting spring 45attached to the yoke 32 and lug 46 of bracket 37 is adapted to hold theconducting strips 29, 30 and 31 in normal non-operated position.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified form of op erating mechanism in which theset of conducting strips 29, 30 and 31 are operatively connected to theplungers 51, 52 and 53 of solenoids 71, 72 and 73 by means of links 74,75 and 7 6, respectively. Plungers 51, 52 and 53 are adapted to move thestrips in a direction at right angles relative to the longitudinal axisof supports 2-0 into operable relation with their associated sets ofcontact springs 28, 2. L and 25 against the re sistance of retractingsprings 54L- and 55 which are adapted to hold the contacting strips andtheir associated operating plun gers in normal non-operated position.

For each horizontal row of sets of contact springs 23, 24 and 25 thereis associated a longitudinally movable bar 56, each of which carries aplurality of flexible cams 5'7, 58 and 59 which are insulatedly arrangedand disposed obliquely thereon in juxtaposition with the resilientcontacts 23, 2 1 and 25 with which they are associated. For each set ofcams 57, 58 and 59, there is provided a vibration damper 60 whichgenerally consists of a pad of felt or similar material disposed betweenthe cams and held securely on the insulating bar 56 by any suitablemeans. Each bar 56 is pivotally arranged on links such as 81 and 82shown in Fig. 8 which in turn are pivotally arranged on brackets 83 and8st secured on the cross bars 21 and 22 respectively. Link 82 isoperatively connected to a link 67 which is loosely connected to theplunger 61 of an operating electromagnet 62 adapted to move the cammingbar with which it is associated and the cams carried thereby in operablerelation with their associated contact springs against the resistance ofa retracting spring 63 hooked on the arm 6st of link 82 and an arm 65integrally formed with the pole piece 66 of operating magnet 62.

lVhen the switch is in normal position,

the relative positions of the cam set, conducting strips and stationarycontact spring set, adjacent to one another, are shown in the left groupof Fig. 3, and the mode of operation may be described as follows: thenthe electromagnet 62 01"? any horizontal row of contacts is energized,its associ ated plunger 61 is attracted causing thereby a rod 56,connected therewith and carrying a plurality of cam sets, to movelongitudinally and laterally at the same time. The movement of this rodcauses the cam sets thereon to move into operable relation with theirrespectively associated contact spring sets, as shown in the outer leftgroup of contacts in Fig. 1. A set of conductors, comprising strips 29,80 and 31 is selected and the electro-magnet therefor, such a4, isenergized and attracts its plunger 43 which causes the set of conductingstrips to also move longitudinally and laterally at the same time, butin a direction coordinate to the movement of rod 56. The movement of theconducting strips effects a contact between the conducting strips andthe adja cent set of cams on the operated rod 56, and the cam set beingresilient, is flexed into contact with the adjacent contact spring setcomprising springs 23, 52st and 25. The opcrated position of theconducting springs with relation to the operated positions of theadjacent cam set and contact spring set, is shown in the inner leftgroup of Fig. 4-. The movement of the conducting strips is continued andthe cam set, in engagement with the contact spring set, serves as aguide until the conducting strips pass beyond the cams which at thispoint are released and returned to normal as shown in the inner rightgroup of Fig. 1. Connection is eil'ectcd with a wiping action andmaintained by the operated set of conducting strips independently of theother parts of the switch. The rod 56 is arranged to return to normal soas to be in readiness for the establishment of other connections, andthe position of the switch at this time, is shown in the middle group ofFig. 3. Should the bar 56 be again operated, and while it is in suchposition, the conducting strips which were employed in the establishmentof the first mentioned connection, should be released through thedeenergization of its associated electro-magnet at, the conductingstrips would be returned to normal by the tensioned spring l5 and wouldflex in the opposite direction its adjacent cam set on the op erated rodas shown in the outer right group of Fig. 4. The relative position of anoperated set of conducting strips with respect to its adjacent cam setand contact spring set in normal positions, is shown in the right groupof Fig. 3.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switching structure, a plurality of contacts arranged in sets,stationary supports therefor, a plurality of conducting strips arrangedin sets and disposed coordinately to said contacts, a plurality of resilient cams individual to said contacts and arranged in sets andcorresponding to said sets of contacts, and means for moving a set ofsaid cams and a set of said conducting strips to eiiect an engagementbetween said sets of conducting strips and contacts.

2. In a switching structure, a plurality of sets of contacts arranged ina row, a set of conducting strips common to said contacts, cammingmembers for each of said strips and arranged in sets similar to saidsets of contacts, means for positioning a set of camming members, andmeans for moving said strips into engagement with said positioned set ofcamming members to effect a subsequent connection between said stripsand a set off said contacts.

3. In a switching structure a set of operable contacts, a set ofoperable conducting strips associated therewith, a cam for each of saidcontacts, means for moving said cams in the path of said strips, andmeans for moving said strips along said operated cams and in contactualrelation therewith into engagement with said contacts.

4. In a switching structure, flexible contacts, operable conductingstrips associated therewith, cams associated with said contacts andnormally out of operable relation therewith, means for moving said camsinterjacent said strips and said contacts, and means for moving saidstrips into engagement first with said cams in operated positions andsecond with said contacts toeffect a connection between said strips andsaid contacts.

5. In a coordinate switch structure, sets of operable contacts,insulating supports therefor, sets of contacting strips movable in alateral direction relative to the length of said supports, a resilientcam for. each of said contacts, longitudinally movable bars arranged tosupport said cams, means for operating said bars, and means foroperating said strips for interengaging said cams and said contacts witha wiping action,

6. In a switching structure, the combina tion of a plurality ofobliquely disposed sets of operable contacts arranged in rows,insulating supports therefor, a set of movable conductors for each ofsaid rows, a camming bar associated with each of said supports, anddisposed parallel thereto, and means for selectively moving saidconductors into contacting engagement with said contacts, saidengagement being eifected by the conjoint operation of one of said barsand a set of conductors.

7. In a switching structure, the combination of sets of flexiblecontacts, sets of con ducting strips disposed at right angles thereto,sets of flexible cams associated with said contacts, means for movingsaid cams selectively in operating relation with said flexible contacts,means for operating said strips to flex said cams wherein the continuedmovement of said strips is eiiective to establish connection with saidcontacts with a wiping action, and means for preventing the vibration ofsaid cams when released by said strips.

8. In a switching structure, sets of movable contacts, sets of contactsprings associated therewith, insulating supports for said contactsprings, a cam for each of said movable contacts, and electromagneticmeans for moving said cams interj acent said movable contacts and saidcontact springs for efiecting connections.

9. In a switching structure, the combination of sets of flexiblecontacts, back supports for each of said contacts, movable bars, sets ofcams disposed obliquely on said movable bars and normally lying injuxta-position with said contacts, sets of contacting strips associatedwith said contacts, electromagnetic means for moving said cams inengageable relation with said contacts, and electromagnetic means formoving said strips in engagement with said cams, said cams being adaptedto guide said strips into engagement with said contacts.

10. In a switching structure, the combination of operable contactsmovable in one direction, other contacts associated therewith andnormally movable in a path wherein they are incapable of engaging thefirst mentioned contacts, resilient cams, movable bars for said cams,electromagnetic means for operating said bars for moving said cams inengageable relation with said contacts, and means for moving the secondmentioned contacts for establishing connection through the medium ofsaid cams.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of JuneA. D. 1923.

JOHN F. I-IEABN.

